A Master of Djinn

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read in a world that I really enjoyed being immersed and which left me wanting more. The world-building and the criticism on colonialism and the relationship between Western powers with Middle East and Asian countries in the 19th century and early 20th are kinda where this book shines, even if I felt that the ending was a little wanting.

Fatma el-Sha'arawi is the first female investigator in the Ministry of Alchemy and something and Supernatural Entities. She's a breath of fresh air by way of fantasy protagonists, wearing English-style suits and ties and bowler hats (considered “exotic” in Cairo) and with an enigmatic girlfriend to boot. We had first met her in A Dead Djinn in Cairo, and the foundations set in that short story continue expanding in this book. The book opens when an apparently long-dead magician, al-Jahiz, reappears and commits a flagrantly flamboyant mass murder. He has long become the stuff of legends for opening the portal between the mortal realm and the djinn and introducing magic and the supernatural into this world, and his reappearance is something akin to a resurrected prophet walking the streets of Cairo again. Fatma is called into investigate, along with her new partner and latest female addition to the Ministry, Agent Hadia (she of the sky-blue hijab), as well as Siti, Fatma's erstwhile lover.

The characters we were introduced to in the two short stories preceding this book (A Dead Djinn and The Haunting of Tram Car 015) reappear in this one, although it is only Fatma and Siti that get fleshed out. Hamed and Onsi, of whom I was looking forward to seeing more, are unfortunately relegated to being almost like cameo appearances. Even so, because of how fast-paced this book is, we barely see much characterisation of Fatma and Siti, and instead just join them as they're swept up along with the whirlwind of action going on around them.

The book clearly has a theme about colonialism and being bound against one's own will. I liked how it was explored in the form of a reimagined Egypt, more affluent, more liberal, and where Cairo and some of its citizens enjoy the same level of prosperity as London and Paris in the early 20th century. The interaction between the African characters with other characters from England, Russia, and Germany gives us a site from which we can think about colonialism, such as when Fatma is irked by an Englishwoman constantly referring to the Egyptians as “natives”, or when England and America are spoken of in a not-so-pleasant light in the same way African and Asian countries are usually described. This percolates to the level of the plot as well, which deals with the idea of djinn being controlled against their will, who gets to do this (if any), and the ethical implications of that power.

The ending felt a little lacking, in my opinion. I guessed the plot twist from the first quarter of the book, and the ending itself wrapped things up a little too conveniently. It did however have some moments that redeemed it a little. I wasn't surprised at the reveal about Abigail at all. I think I guessed it from as early as the first time Fatma found the Portendorf's notes referencing an "AW". I enjoyed the bit where the ifrit told the Ifrit King that he was a pacifist though. Fatma's being able to wield the Seal was also pretty predictable and I'm not sure I understand why the Seal chose her, and what price they exacted (if any) to be able to do so much as to command the Ifrit lords to go back. It all felt a little sudden somehow.

Overall, still a good enjoyable read with a world that I want to see more of (and particularly more of the angels!!! We didn't get as much of them in this book as I would nearly have liked).

I suspected that after reading A Dead Djinn in Cairo I was going to gobble this up too and that's what happened! This might have been a bit predictable, but the mystery component felt more realistic than typical detective stories and I'll take any story of Fatimah navigating this magical version of Cairo.

Lovely multi-layered tale that i suspect would deserve multiple readings to uncover the historical, from the fantastical historical, from the pure fiction invented by Clark.. Now off to the prequels

4.5 final rating

Sorry to say. But there is nothing original about this book. Some entertaining passages at times, but nothing that made me think I was reading a great book.
An entertaining novel. Nothing more.
The problem is that I don't have time for entertaining novels.
I want fantastic, excellent, great entertaining novels.
So, it's a matter of taste.

3.5

P. Djèlí Clark writes lush masterworks, his newest book to his collection of stories in The Dead Djinn Universe is A Master of Djinn. And, much like his other short-form works, A Master of Djinn is an intense sensory experience, with engaging characters, dialog, and kick-ass fight scenes.

It is no secret that I am a fan of his novels.  The Haunting of Tram Car 015 and A Dead Djinn in Cairo are gorgeous works of short-form fantasy. He has a knack for describing things to such a degree that you shouldn't be surprised if the red sands of Egypt poured out between your pages or you start to smell the heady incense of the streets of Cairo. If you listen very closely, you could probably hear drums thrumming while you read. 

“The three of them sat there - A Ministry agent, a half-djinn, and a cat (likely), staring out past the balcony to the sleeping city they somehow had to find a way to save.”

This kind of description is probably not for everyone. It can meander a bit, slow down the plot a little. If you are a fan of punchy stories, this one is probably not for you. 

The story's plot is a solid murder mystery staring Agent Fatima el- Sha'awari, who works for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities. We were introduced to her in Clark's other novellas, The Haunting of Tram Car 015 and A Dead Djinn in Cairo and the short story The Angel of Khan el-Khalili. We are back in 1912 Cairo. Djinn and all manner of creatures are a part of daily life. Fatima is investigating the murder of a dozen brutally burned people, The Brotherhood of Al-Jahiz. The corpses' clothes were untouched. It is as if they were scorched from the inside out. 

Al-Jahiz transformed the world 50 years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms before vanishing into the unknown. Fatima, her girlfriend Siti, and her new partner try to unravel the case before the supernatural forces kill us all. Of course, things all go pear-shaped. 

“Even a rich man must sometimes eat with beggars.”

One of the aspects I loved was the subtle subtext of defining what feminity is. On the one hand, you have Fatima, badass in a dapper suit in a world full of ultra-conservative people. On the other, you have a couple of characters in the story that are the epitome of what women are supposed to be in 1912 Cairo. Meek and mild. They wouldn't hurt a fly. I enjoyed the interplay off of the characters with a few twists. And while the ending was of no great surprise to me, I enjoyed the dynamic and the journey getting there. 

Unlike Clark's novellas and short stories, the characters didn't completely click with me. Fatima is supposed to be a shrewd investigator. She is no novice when it comes to dealing with the supernatural creatures of Cairo. However, at times Fatima seemed almost bumbling. Plot details that were essential points of interest for the murder case seem to get overlooked for a few chapters. While sweet, Fatima's romance with Siti lacks the intensity that I think Clark was trying to convey. They had a solid connection, but they seemed to be casually dating rather than be in a relationship. 

“You! You can't just walk in here! This is a crime scene!” “That would explain the dead bodies, then,” she replied. He blinked dumbly, and she sighed. Wasting good sarcasm was annoying.”

The action sequences were like watching a Michael Bay movie in my head. They were fantastic. His pacing and descriptions get you into the characters while they battle. It balanced well against the story as it slowed down a bit in some sections. 

To my knowledge, this is Clark's first step into full-length novels. And as such, this first novel has some minor pacing and dialog problems. It feels like he was making himself comfortable in this length of a story. However, in typical Clark fashion, it is generally an excellent story with superb descriptions and an engaging who-done-it plot. Is it perfect? Not quite. But it is enjoyable as hell, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great murder fantasy mystery. I can't wait to read more works in this series.

Being my most anticipated book of this year, I never expected to get this advance copy. But I overjoyed when it happened and couldn't wait to get to it. And as expected, this was such fun.

After having read one short and a novella set in this world, I was looking forward to seeing how much more expansive this would get. And I really enjoyed how the author gave us more background about how the Djinn came to inhabit this world and coexist with mortals, the differences in the workings of supernatural creatures in various countries, as well as the disintegration of the British empire. The author also throws a light on the racism and prejudices that form the undercurrent of this world, both from the white people towards the native Egyptians, as well as between the Egyptians who believe in different faiths. All of this information makes us feel like this world is real and vibrant, and immerse ourselves in its sights and sounds. I've always admired the author's writing for his distinctive world building and this one was no less impressive.

The writing is also engaging right away, pulling us into the mystery and sending us on a quest to find the truth along with Agent Fatma. She is delightful as ever, standing out not only due to her signature suits and bowler hats, but also her bravery and drive to do her best. I didn't expect a partner would work well with her, but the author manages to create a wonderful character in Hadia - she is a perfect foil to Fatma, with her conservative dressing and strong belief in religion, but she is also extremely sharp and fearless, throwing herself in harmful circumstances despite not having a lot of experience. The author weaves an interesting murder mystery plot, mixed with the villain's desire to control the world, and a volatile time in history when countries are teetering on the cusp of war. This makes the stakes very high, with us worried every step of the way for our favorite agents. In the midst of it, we also get an unexpected sapphic relationship which is full of angst and twists, but deep yearning. However, the author never lets the narrative be all serious - we also get lots of humorous dialogue, either through the Djinn or cameos from the previous stories - making this story very enjoyable.

In conclusion, this was a delight. If you've read the previous stories set in this works, you can't give it a miss. If you are new to the author's works, do start with A Dead Djinn in Cairo which you can read for free on Tor.com. If you wanna experience a steampunk historical Cairo full of supernatural creatures, fascinating mysteries being solved by very memorable agents, and a what if scenario of colonial powers having lost their hold on their empires much earlier than our real world - then this is a perfect series for you. Just be prepared to be wowed.